On December 2, 2014, the Commission established the Disability Advisory Committee (DAC) to provide advice and recommendations to the Commission on a wide array of disability issues.

The DAC provides a means for stakeholders with interests in accessibility issues to exchange ideas, facilitates the participation of consumers with disabilities in proceedings before the Commission, and assists the Commission in educating the greater disability community and covered entities on disability-related matters. The DAC keeps the Commission apprised of current and evolving communications issues for persons with disabilities. Topics to be considered by the DAC, as specified by the Commission may include, but are not limited to, the following:

Communications Access

  • Advanced Communications Services and Equipment
  • Access to Telephone Emergency Services (9-1-1)
  • Hearing Aid Compatibility
  • National Deaf-Blind Equipment Distribution Program
  • Telecommunications Relay Services
  • Telecommunications Services and Equipment

Video Programming Access

  • Access to Televised Emergency Information
  • Accessible User Interfaces on Video Programming Apparatus and Access to Program Guides and Menus Provided by Navigation Devices
  • Audio Description
  • Closed Captioning

Click the tabs below for additional information regarding each term of the Disability Advisory Committee.

 

DAC5, 2022-24

Disability Advisory Committee Fifth Term

 

Disability Advisory Committee - Group Photo, September 8, 2023, click for a larger version...

Structure of the DAC

Fifth Term Members

  • Disability Advisory Committee: Roster

DAC Meetings

DAC Recommendations

  • Direct Video Calling (DVC) Report and Recommendation
    Word || PDF
  • Audio Description File Transmittal for Internet Protocol Delivered Video Programming
    Word || PDF

Ex Parte Exemption Status

  • 1-2-18 Notice Concerning Ex Parte Status of Information Submitted to the Disability Advisory Committee (DA 18-7)
    Public Notice: Word || PDF

Headlines

12-15-23 FCC Announces January 30 Disability Advisory Committee Meeting (DA 23-1164)
Public Notice: Word|| PDF

7-21-23 FCC Announces September 7 Disability Advisory Committee Meeting (DA 23-630)
Public Notice: Word || PDF

4-3-23 Announcement of DAC Membership and First Meeting (DA 23-286)
Public Notice: Word || PDF

8-30-22 FCC Announces Anticipated Renewal of Its Disability Advisory Committee and Solicits Applications For Membership (DA 22-905)
Public Notice: Word || PDF

 

DAC4, 2020-22

Disability Advisory Committee Term Four

Structure of the DAC

Fourth Term Members

  • Disability Advisory Committee: Word || PDF

DAC Meetings

DAC Recommendations

  • Real-Time Text (RTT) Deployment in Wireline Networks
    Word || PDF
  • Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) Use on Video Conferencing Platforms
    Word || PDF
  • Concerns and Lessons Learned Regarding Communication Access for People with Disabilities During the Pandemic
    Word || PDF
  • Identification of Emerging Technologies and Their Associated Accessibility Opportunities and Considerations
    Word || PDF
  • Streamed Video Programming Closed Captioning Files
    Word || PDF

Ex Parte Exemption Status

  • 1-2-18 Notice Concerning Ex Parte Status of Information Submitted to the Disability Advisory Committee (DA 18-7)
    Public Notice: Word || PDF

Headlines

9-26-22 FCC Announces November 1 Disability Advisory Committee Meeting (DA 22-1002)
Public Notice: Word || PDF

6-7-22 FCC Announces June 28 Disability Advisory Committee Meeting (DA 22-615)
Public Notice: Word || PDF

2-24-22 Remarks of Commissioner Geoffrey Starks at the February 24, 2022 Disability Advisory Committee Meeting (DOC 380680)
Remarks: Word || PDF

1-19-22 FCC Announces February 24, 2022 Disability Advisory Committee Meeting (DA 22-60)
Public Notice: Word || PDF

8-10-21 FCC Announces September 9, 2021 Disability Advisory Committee Meeting
Public Notice: Word || PDF

1-13-21 FCC Announces Fourth Term of Disability Advisory Committee & February 18 Meeting (DA 21-51)
Public Notice: Word || PDF

7-14-20 FCC Announces Anticipated Renewal of Its Disability Advisory Committee and Solicits Applications For Membership (DA 20-722)
Public Notice: Word || PDF

 

DAC3, 2018-20

Disability Advisory Committee Term Three

 

Disability Advisory Committee - Group Photo, April 10, 2019, click for a larger version...

Structure of the DAC

Third Term Members

  • Disability Advisory Committee: Word ||PDF

DAC Meetings

DAC Recommendations

  • Audio Description Quality Best Practices
    Word || PDF
  • Access to Live Programming Best Practices
    Word || PDF
    Appendix A: ENT Coordinator Toolkit in English and Spanish
  • Internet Protocol Captioned Telephone Service User Registration Database
    Word || PDF
  • Providing Reliable Information About Televised Programs with Audio Description
    Word || PDF
  • RTT Integration with Point-to-Point videophone Calls
    Word || PDF
  • RTT Integration with Video Relay Services Calls
    Word || PDF

Ex Parte Exemption Status

  • 1-2-18 Notice Concerning Ex Parte Status of Information Submitted to the Disability Advisory Committee (DA 18-7)
    Public Notice: Word || PDF

Headlines

9-10-20 FCC Announces October 14, 2020 Meeting of Disability Advisory Committee (DA 20-1066)
Public Notice: Word || PDF

1-22-20 FCC Announces Date of Disability Advisory Committee Meeting: February 26 (DA 20-92)
Public Notice: Word || PDF

8-20-19 FCC Announces Date of Disability Advisory Committee Meeting: September 24 (DA 19-788)
Public Notice: Word || PDF

3-7-19 FCC Announces Date of Disability Advisory Committee Meeting: April 10 (DA 19-157)
Public Notice: Word || PDF

2-7-19 Appointment of Membership to for the 2019-2021 Term for the Disability Advisory Committee (DA 19-55)
Public Notice: Word || PDF

8-22-18 FCC Announces Anticipated Renewal of Disability Advisory Committee and Invites Membership Applications (DA-18-862)
Public Notice: Word || PDF

 

DAC2, 2016-18

Disability Advisory Committee Term Two

Full Membership of the 2nd Disability Advisory Committee as of March 21, 2017

Structure of the DAC

Second Term Members

  • Disability Advisory Committee: Word || PDF
  • Emergency Communications Subcommittee: Word || PDF
  • Relay / Equipment Distribution Subcommittee: Word || PDF
  • Video Programming Subcommittee: Word || PDF
  • Technology Transitions Subcommittee: Word || PDF

DAC Meetings

DAC Recommendations

  • Internet Protocol Captioned Telephone Relay Service Metrics
    Word || PDF
  • Access to Telecommunications Relay Services at Emergency Shelters
    Word || PDF
  • RTT on Refreshable Braille Displays
    Word || PDF
  • RTT and TRS Operations
    Word || PDF
  • Best Practices for Graphical Emergency Alerts
    Word || PDF
  • RTT Implementations with Refreshable Braille Displays
    Word || PDF
  • Methods for Assessing the Quality of IP Captioned Telephone Service (IPCTS)
    Word || PDF
  • Accelerating Public Safety Answering Point Adoption of Real-Time Text
    Word || PDF

Ex Parte Exemption Status

  • 1-2-18 Notice Concerning Ex Parte Status of Information Submitted to the Disability Advisory Committee (DA 18-7)
    Public Notice: Word || PDF

Headlines

8-29-18 FCC Announces Date of Disability Advisory Committee Meeting (DA-18-894)
Public Notice: Word || PDF

5-23-18 FCC Announces Date of Disability Advisory Committee Meeting (DA 18-546)
Public Notice: Word || PDF

2-01-18 FCC Announces Date of Disability Advisory Committee Meeting (DA 18-98)
Public Notice: Word || PDF

1-2-18 Notice Concerning Ex Parte Status of Information Submitted to the Disability Advisory Committee (DA 18-7)
Public Notice: Word || PDF

9-21-17 Disability Advisory Committee Announcement Of Date, Time And Agenda Of Next Meeting (DA 17-906)
Public Notice: Word || PDF

Disability Advisory Committee Announcement of Date, Time and Agenda of Next Meeting (DA 17-468)
Public Notice: Word || PDF

2-21-17 Disability Advisory Committee Announcement Of Date, Time And Agenda Of Next Meeting (DA 17-181)
Public Notice: Word || PDF

1-5-17 Appointment of Membership for the 2017-2019 Term of the Disability Advisory Committee and Announcement of Tentative Dates for DAC Meetings (DA 17-19)
Public Notice: Word || PDF

9-6-16 FCC Announces Anticipated Renewal of Disability Advisory Committee and Solicits Applications for Membership (DA 16-1011)
Public Notice: Word || PDF

 

DAC1, 2014-16

Disability Advisory Committee Term One

Photograph of members of the first DAC

Structure of the DAC

First Term Members

  • Disability Advisory Committee: Word || PDF
  • Communications Subcommittee: Word || PDF
  • Emergency Communications Subcommittee: Word || PDF
  • Relay / Equipment Distribution Subcommittee: Word || PDF
  • Video Programming Subcommittee: Word || PDF
  • Technology Transitions Subcommittee: Word || PDF

DAC Meetings

DAC Recommendations

  • Disability Advisory Committee Recommendation on Number Portability
    Word || PDF
  • Disability Advisory Committee Recommendation to the Commission on Video to Text
    Word || PDF
  • Disability Advisory Committee Recommendation to the Commission on Internet of Things
    Word || PDF
  • Best Practices to Promote Effective Access to and Usability of ICT Products and Services for Americans with Cognitive Disabilities
    Word || PDF
  • Disability Advisory Committee Recommendation on IP Captioned Telephone Service Quality Standards
    Word || PDF
  • Disability Advisory Committee Recommendation on 911 Training for Video Relay Service Communication Assistants
    Word || PDF
  • Disability Advisory Committee Recommendation on Amplified Phones
    Word || PDF
  • Approved Disability Advisory Committee Recommendation to the Commission on HD Voice
    Word || PDF
  • Disability Advisory Committee Recommendation to the Commission on Captioning Case Formatting
    Word || PDF
  • Disability Advisory Committee Comments on PS Docket No. 15-91 on Improving Wireless Emergency Alerts and Community-Initiated Alerting
    Word || PDF
  • Disability Advisory Committee Further Recommendation to the Commission on Real-Time Text
    Word || PDF
  • Disability Advisory Committee Recommendation Regarding Issues to Consider for Video Described Video Programming Notice of Proposed Rulemaking Proceeding
    Word || PDF
  • Disability Advisory Committee Recommendation Regarding Interagency Collaboration on Accessibility of Video Programming
    Word PDF
  • Disability Advisory Committee Recommendation to the Commission on Direct Video Access to 911
    Word || PDF
  • Disability Advisory Committee Recommendation to the Commission on TRS Access to N-1-1 Services
    Word || PDF
  • Approved Disability Advisory Committee Recommendation to the Commission on Real-Time Text
    Word PDF
  • Approved Disability Advisory Committee Recommendation to the Commission on New and Emerging Technologies
    Word || PDF
  • DAC Recommendation to the Commission Regarding Data and Information on Telecommunication Needs of People with Disabilities
    Word || PDF
  • DAC Recommendation to the Commission on Wireless Emergency Alerts
    Word || PDF
  • DAC Recommendation to the Commission Regarding VRS Speed of Answer
    Word || PDF

Ex Parte Exemption Status

  • 1-2-18 Notice Concerning Ex Parte Status of Information Submitted to the Disability Advisory Committee (DA 18-7)
    Public Notice: Word || PDF

Headlines

11-10-16 Disability Advisory Committee Announcement Of Date, Time And Agenda Of Next Meeting (DA 16-1272)
Public Notice: Word || PDF

8-22-16 Disability Advisory Committee Announcement of Date, Time and Agenda of Next Meeting (DA 16-956)
Public Notice: Word || PDF

5-20-16 Disability Advisory Committee Announcement of Date, Time and Agenda of Next Meeting (DA 16-572)
Public Notice: Word || PDF

1-28-16 Disability Advisory Committee Announcement of Date, Time and Agenda of Next Meeting (DA 16-98)
Public Notice: Word || PDF

10-1-15 Announcement of FCC Summit on Telecommunication Needs of People with Cognitive Disabilities (DA 15-1110)
Public Notice: Word || PDF

9-11-15 Disability Advisory Committee Announcement of Date, Time and Agenda of Next Meeting (DA 15-1002)
Public Notice: Word || PDF

6-11-15 Notice Concerning Ex Parte Status of Information Submitted to or by the Disability Advisory Committee (DA 15-689)
Public Notice: Word || PDF

5-29-15 Disability Advisory Committee Announcement of Date, Time and Agenda of Next Meeting (June 23, 2015) (DA 15-649)
Public Notice: Word || PDF

2-10-15 FCC Announces First Meeting Date of the Disability Advisory Committee and Appointment of Membership (DA 15-194)
Public Notice: Word || PDF

12-2-14 FCC Announces the Establishment of the Disability Advisory Committee and Solicits Nominations for Membership (DA 14-1737)
Public Notice:Word || PDF
News Release: Word || PDF

Updated:
Monday, March 18, 2024